Heath show truegrit to retain thecounty cup in a hard fought final

The game was worthy of a final, with Heath having the better of things early on and scoring after only three minutes when skipper Dylan Thomas ran half the length of the pitch to score in the corner.

Rafe Liebers added the extras but Eastbourne responded positively and there was no further scoring before the break.

Eastbourne made changes at half time and promised a comeback but Heath doubled their advantage when Takhy Marrero made light of tacklers hanging off him to score from 10 metres.

Again Liebers added the two points and after that Heath had chances to kill off the game. From one penalty move they crossed the line but could not ground the ball.

But it was a nervous last five minutes after Eastbourne reduced the deficit to 14-7 from a quick tap penalty.

It was a performance of true grit by Heath, with major contributions from the whole 16-player squad.

Pictured above are back row (from the left): Charlie Frost, Rafe Liebers, Harrison Hampshire, Henry Duffield, Finnley Connellan, Leon Cragg, William Scotland, Barney van Hoeken and Charlie Clarke. Front row: Euan McClaren, Evan Herbert, Rory Adams, Takhy Marrero, Dyland Thomas, Ollie Hanley and Charlie Layton.